Clasp.



A. P. BANNISTER.

CLASP.

APPLICATION FlLED APR. 22, 1915.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Wfnesses. I J%venior www W JM THE COLUMBIA PLAI IocRAPH cc WASHINGTON,D. c.

UNITED STATE PATENT* OFFICE.

ARTHUR P. BANNISTER, or oRANs'roN, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THEBAssET'r JEWELRY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR P. BAN- MsTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cranston, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inClasps, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to cla'sps or fasteners adapted for use upon beltsand bands.

The essential objects of my invention are to afford an adjustment of theband or belt without the entire disengagement of the clasp parts; toeffect this end without pressure of the band or belt against the edgeportion of the face plate, whereby the exterior of the belt face isworn, weakened, or defaced; toinsure a grip upon the band at variouspoints more or less remote from each other, whereby a maximum ofsecurity is attained, and a groove or continued line of indentation ofthe inner face of the band is avoided, and no impairment of strengthensues; to enable the clasp members to be entirely disengaged from eachother at will: and to attain these ends in a structure which is light,strong, and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts andcombinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan perspective view of a clasp attached to a completebelt embodying my invention, Fig. 2, a top plan view of the clasp andadjacent parts, Fig. 3, a longitudinal section of the same on line 3-3of Fig. 1, Fig. 4:, a similar section of the same showing the claspmembers in open or adjusting position, and Figs. 5 and 6, rearperspective views of the clasp members in detail.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

In detail the body member 7 of my clasp comprises an oblong curved faceplate 8 provided with rearwardly directed flanges 9 upon its top andbottom edges. Fixed to the rear portions of the flanges are transversebars 10 and 11; the latter preferably flat, and the former preferablycylindrical, in cross-section. The bars are spaced from Specification ofLetters Patent.

] Patented Apr.11, 1916.

Application filed Apri122, 1915. Serial No. 23,231.

each other near opposite end portions of the such a width as to passeasily between the flanges 9 as a sliding fit. Upon its outer end is anattaching loop 1 1, and integral with its inner end is a broad hook 15whose resilient beak 16 is provided preferably with an inward bend 17.The bight 18 of the hook is adapted to form a seat for the bar 10. Thehook is centrally positioned upon the end of the plate 13. Integral withthe end of the plate 13 at each side of the hook 15 are hooks 20 withshort, straight, rigid beaks 21 disposed at a greater angle to the plate13 than is the beak 16, and in whose bights 22 also is adapted to beseated the bar 10.

In the drawings, 23 represents a band or belt, one end portion 24: ofwhich slides loosely along the rear surface of the face plate 8, andwhose other end portion 25 carries a loop 26 passing through the loop 1aof the plate 13.

The clamping member 12 is independent of the body member"? inconstruction, and when it is desired to apply the belt these parts aremanually inter-engaged as shown in Fig. 3. This is the normal engaged orwearing position. The hooks 15, 20, partially surround the bar 10. Thefree end of the beak 16 engages the belt portion 24: near the end of thefaceplate 8; the free end portion being outwardly inclined somewhat byvirtue of its intermediate bend 17 The length, resiliency, and shape ofthe beak 16 permits a gripping effect of its end upon the belt despitethe curved character of the face plate 8. The beaks 21 also effect agripping action, but their action is effective at points in the rear ofand at each side of the beak 16. Hence there is exerted a grip upon thebelt at three separate points remote longitudinally of the belt. Thelong resilient beak 16 acts first in order upon the belt, thus holdingit preparatory to the contact of the rear beaks. The inclination of allthe beaks is such as to prevent longitudinal movement of the beltportion 2 1.

If after the belt or band is applied to from each other bothtransversely and the body it is desired to lengthen or loosen the same,the member 12 is tilted somewhat on the bar 10 relatively to the member7 thereby raising the beaks out of contact with the belt, as shown inFig. 4. Thereupon the belt portion 24 is freed and may slide thenecessary distance to enlarge the circle of the belt the desired extent,and then permit the clasp members to assume their original positions ofengagement.

What I claim is 1. In a belt clasp, the combination of a face plate,lateral guide flanges on the plate, a transversely disposed bar engagingthe flanges and spaced from the face plate, a clamping plate, a beltengaging loop on one end of the clamping plate, a hook on the other endof the clamping plate independent of the bar, engaging the bar andadapted to co-actwith the face plate, and auxiliary hooks upon theclamping plate disposed at an angle to the first hook.

2. In a belt clasp, the combination of a face plate, lateral guideflanges on the plate, a transversely disposed bar upon the flangesspaced from the face plate, a clamping plate, a resilient hook upon theclamping plate removably engaging the bar and adapted to coact with theface plate, and auxiliary rigid hooks upon the clamping plate.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ARTHUR P. BANNISTER.

Witnesses:

HoRATIo E. BELLOVVS, CHARLES S. JENOKES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0.

